Container with dispensing hopper means and blanks for making the same



Dec. 15, 1964 M. 'r. FARQUHAR cormmza WITH DISPENSING HOPPER MEANS ANDBLANKS FOR MAKING THE SAME 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Dec. 28, 1962 INVENTORMELVILLE T. FARQUHAR HIS ATTORNEY? Dec. 15, 1964 M. T. FARQUHARCONTAINER WITH DISPENSING HOPPER MEANS AND BLANKS FOR MAKING THE SAME 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec; 28, 1962 INVENTOR 33 MELVILLE T. FARQUHAR HISATTORNEYS United States Patent Gfifice 3,161,341 Patented Dec. 15, 1964of Delaware Filed Dec. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 248,951 16 Elairns. (til.229-17) This invention relates to an improved container having a hopperportion or means for readily displaying and dispensing the contents ofthe container as Well as to improved blanks for forming such a containeror the like.

It is well known that containers can be provided having a plurality ofwall means defining a compartment therein with one of the wall meanshaving an opening provided therein and interconnected to thecompartment, the container carrying a hopper portion adapted to open andclose such opening whereby the hopper portion pro vides means fordisplaying and readily dispensing the contents of the container.

For example, such containers are particularly adaptable for packagingconventional disc-shaped after dinner mints whereby such containers canbe utilized as attractive displaying and dispensing means for such mintsat the cashiers counter or the like.

However, it has been found that when such openings are formed in theside wall means of the prior known containers and are located adjacentthe bottom wall means thereof, the columns of articles in the containerstending to spill out of the opened hopper portions bulge outwardly thebottom portion of the side wall means of the containers adjacent theopenings thereof whereby the attractiveness of the containers isdestroyed.

However, according to the teachings of this invention an improvedcontainer of the above type is provided wherein reinforcing means areprovided for at least some of the wall means of the container adjacentthe opening formed therein to tend to eliminate the above-mentionedadverse bulging condition.

Further, the hopper portion of this invention is formed separately fromthe container but is subsequently carried thereby whereby the hopperportion can be formed of a material different from the container to notonly provide such reinforcing means but also to provide a moreattractive container as will be apparent hereinafter.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedcontainer having one or more of the novel features of this invention asset forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved blanks forforming such a container or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from'areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating an improved container ofthis invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating the container in itsdispensing position.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 33 ofFIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of an improved container blank of tln'sinvention adapted to form the container of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one method offorming the container of FIGURE 1 from the blank of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a blank of this invention for forming thehopper portion of the container of this invention.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view illustrating the hopper portion of thecontainer of FIGURE 1 in its partially assembled position.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line83 of FIGURE 2.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedas being particularly adaptable for providing a container that willattractively display and dispense articles, such as after dinner mintsor the like, it is to be understood that the various features of thisinvention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof toprovide containers for other articles as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved container of this invention isgenerally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises aplurality of side wall means 11, 12, 13 and 14, a bottom wall means 15and a top wall means 16 whereby the container 1%) is substantiallyrectangular.

The front side wall means 11 of the container 10 is provided with anopening 17 extending from the bottom Wall means 15 to an edge 18disposed spaced from the top edge of the front side Wall means 11, theopening 17 extending to the adjacent side wall means 12 and 14.

A hopper portion or means 19 is carried by the container 10 and isadapted to open and close the opening 17 thereof.

For example, when the hopper means 19 is disposed in the closed positionillustrated in FIGURE 1, the contents of the container 10 are fullyprotected.

Initially, the hopper means 19 can be held in its closed position bydisposing a sleeve or band around the container 10, such as the tubularand transparent overwrap 20 or the like illustrated in FIGURE 1.

Alternately, or in combination with the overwrap 2% a shipper panel 21,such as a rectangular flat sheet of cardboard or the like, is adapted tobe inserted downwardly through the top wall means 16 adjacent the insidesurface of the front side wall means 11 whereby the inserted panel 21will completely cover the opening 17 on the inside of the hopper means19 when the panel 21 is disposed in place.

In this manner, the panel 21 prevents the contents of the container 14from tending to open the hopper means 19 during shipment or storage ofthe container 10.

When it is desired to open the hopper means 19, the

overwrap 26 is removed, if used, and the panel 21 is re-v moved in themanner illustrated in FIGURE 1,v if used, to permit the hopper means 19to be moved to its opened position as illustrated in FIGURE 2 wherebythe contents of the container disposed in the compartment 22 thereof isadapted to spill out of the compartment 22 into the opened hopper means19 to be readily viewed by the ultimate consumer and permit the ultimateconsumer to Withdraw the desired number of articles through the openedhopper means 19.

' tainer 10.

Therefore, it can be seen that'this" invention provides an improvedcontainer which is adapted to store and trans;

port desired articlespackagedtherein and which can be subsequentlyutilized as'an attractive displaying and dispensingmeans for thecontents of the container.

Because the hopper means 19 is disposed adjacent the bottom of thecontainer 10, the opened hopper means 19 always tends to remain full asthe taken articles'are re placed by other articles falling throughtheopening 17 whereby the dispensing container always gives theappearance of being freshly opened to enhance the sales appeal of-thecontents of the container 10.

7 However, it has been found that when such a container 7 that reinforcethe bottom portions of the side wall means and 1 4 of the container 10adjacent the opening 17 thereof to eliminate such bulging effect as willbe apparent hereinafter. a

While thecontainer 10 of this inventionfc'an be formed in any suitablemanner and from any suitable material,

the embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings is formed from acontainer blank of this invention that is generally indicated by thereference numeral 23 in FIG. 1

can s t The blank 23 can be formed from cardboard or the like and canhave the exterior surface thereof'suitably decorated, such as by havingasheet of aluminum-cont taining metallic vfoil or the like laminatedthereto.

' The container blank'23 is suitably cut and scored to de- 7 fine aseries of foldably connected Walls 24, 25, 26 and a a v '4 t A pluralityof bottom flaps 41, 42 and 43varerespecttively foldably connectedto'the'bottom' edges of the walls 24,25 and '27 at score or fold lines44, 45 and 46, each a bottom flap 41-43 having one or more interlockingflaps 47 carved therefrom andprovided with hook-shaped free ends 48 fora purposehereinafter described.

Therefore, it can be seen that the container blank 23 for forming thecontainer 10 can be simply die cut and die scored in a conventionalmanner.

27 're sp ect ively foldablytconnected together at score or fold lines 28 29, and 30, the walls 2427 respectively forming the side wall means.13, '12, 11 and 14 of the container 10 ina manner hereinafter described.

An "interconnecting flap 31 is foldably connected to the freeside edgeof the wall 24 at a score of fold line 32 the intereonnecting flap 31being, adapted to be ad- While the hopper means19 for the container 10of this invention can be formed of any suitable material and in anysuitable manner, the embodiment of the hopper means 19 of this inventionis formed from a blank of this invention that is generally indicated bythe reference numeral 49 in FIGURE 6.

The hopper blank 49 can comprise cardboard or the like and can be madeof stronger material than the material forming the blank 23 for thecarton 10 to further reinforce the container lfiiat the dispensingopening 17 thereof as will be apparent hereinafter.

Further, since the hopp'ermeans 19 of this invention provides the onlyinside surfaces of the container 10 which will be viewed by the ultimateconsumer when the hopper means 19 ,is opened, the inside surface of thehopper blank '49 can 'be suitably decorated or comprise a substantiallywhite surface whereby the blank 23 forming the container 16 canbe formedof cheaper material than thehopper blank 49 whereby the container10'will havetheappearance that the same is formed entirely of expensivematerial.

7 Thehopper blank 49 is' suitablylcut and scored to de-' amannerhereinafter described. 7

A first pair' of side panels 5 1 and 52 are respectively foldably.conne'cted'to sideedges of the frontpanel at score or fold lines 53 and54, the side panels 51 and 52 being substantially identical and havingsubstantially straight and angled upper surfaces terminating in out-Wardly directed ears i56 for a purpose hereinafter described. a 7

A bottom flap is foldably connected to the front panel 5t at a scoreorfold line 58, the bottom panel 57 being adapted to span the entirebottom endof the container 10 and being provided with a plurality ofrectangular tab hesively secured to the insideisurface of the wall 27ad-' jacent the free side edge thereof to cause the Walls 24-27 to formatubular and rectangular structure as illustrated n I URE a a r a Thewall26 of the blank 23 has a pair of reinforcing panels 33 carved therefromand extending frorn theibottomtedge' of thewall 2 6 to the upper edge18rthereof, the reinforcing panels 33 respectively being 'foldablyconnected to the side edges of the alls, 25 and 27' at the respectivescore or fold lines 29 and 30 anddefining the opening 17 previouslydescribed.

p In this manner, the reinforcing panels-33 'a re'adapted to be foldedback against the inside surfaces of the walls 7 25 and27 when thecontainer blank 23 is being utilized to form the-container 10, asillustrated in FIGURE 5 whereby the reinforcingpanels 33 reinforce the,side Walls f a th 2'5 and "27 atthe dispensing opening'17'vA'pluralityt-of top closure flaps 34, 35 and '36 are respectivel-yfeldably connected to the top, edges of L the walls 24, 25. and 21 atthe respective score or fold "lines- 37, '33 and-39, the top fiaps35'and 36 being substantially identical and adapted to be'foldedinwardly over the topof-the container 10 and have theclosure flap 34'foldedover the same whereby a tongue portion 40 of the top closure flap.34is adapted tobe inserted into thei compartment 22 of the containerlt)adjacent then-inside surface of the front side wall 26-topermittheisldpper" panel 21 to be insertedbehind, thefront sidewall 26inthemannerpreviouslydescribed; t V

.25 and 27 to reinforce t and 61 providing-reinforcing means for thecontainer 10 in a manner hereinafter described;

' Therefore, it can be seen that the-hopper blank 49 of this inventioncan be formed in a realtively simple manner by a die cutting and diescoring operation.

When'it'is desired to form the container. 10 of this invention from theblanks 231and 49, the container blank is folded into tubular form in themannerillustrated 1H FIGURES with the reinforcing panels 33re spectivelyfolded back 'a'gainst the inside sur'faces of the side walls 'the same'adjacent the opening 117 iii the front wall 26.1 e v a I Thereafter, thehopperblank 49 is fOldCdlIltO'd substantially rectangular'form aspartially'illustrated in FIG- URE 7 with the reinforcing sidepanels 6 0and 6l'thereof respectively, disposedinside ofthe side panels 51"and 52.asillustrated in FIGURE 7. v t I Q v -With'the hopper blank 49 foldedinto a substantially rectangular form, the, folded hopper'means 19is'inserted vertically upwardlyiinto theopened bottom portion of thecontainer '10 as illustrated in FIGURE 5,'-the side 7 panels;51 and 52th'ereof respectively being disposedim side of thereinf rcingIpaneIs33,;and the hopperportion '19 being telescoped" upwardly until' thebottom flap. 57-

thereofis disposed in the's'ame' plane as the bottom edges of the sideWalls 24, 25 and 27 whereby the front panel 50 of the hopper means 19completely fills the opening 17 Thereafter, the bottom flaps 41, 42 and43 of the con tainer are folded inwardly against the bottom flap 57 ofthe hopper means 19 to cause the interlocking tab means 47 thereof toregister with the flaps 59 of the bottorn flap 57.

Subsequently, the interlocking tabs 47 are pushed inwardly to cause theflaps 59 of the bottom flap 47 to form openings 64 as illustrated inFIGURE 8 whereby the inserted hook-shaped ends 48 of the interlockingtabs 47 lock the bottom flaps 41-43 to the bottom flap 57 of the hoppermeans 19. In this manner, the hopper means 19 is carried by thecontainer 10.

While the hopper means 19 has been described and illustrated as beinginterconnected to the container 10 by mechanical means, it is to beunderstood that the hopper means 19 could be secured to the container 19by other means, such as by a suitable adhesive or the like.

When the hopper means 19 is secured to the container 10 in the abovemanner, it can be seen that the side panels 60 and 61 are respectivelydisposed adjacent the inside surfaces of the side walls 25 and 27 at theopening 17 in the front wall 26 whereby the panels 60 and 61 reinforcethe side walls 25 and 27.

After the hopper means 19 has been secured to the container 10, thedesired contents can be disposed into the compartment 22 of thecontainer 10 through the open upper end thereof and the container 10 canbe subsequently closed by the top closure flaps 35, 36 and 34 in themanner previously described.

Thereafter, the hopper means 19 can be held in its closed position bythe overwrap and/or the shipper panel 21 so that the filled container 10can be subsequently stored and shipped in the manner illustrated inFIGURE 1.

When it is desired to open the container 10, the overwrap 20 and/orshipper panel 21 are removed in the manner previously described and thefront panel 50 of the hopper means 19 is pulled outwardly whereby theside panels 51 and 52 move outwardly therewith until the cars 56 thereofabut against the inside surface of the front wall 26 in a mannerillustrated in FIGURE 3 whereby the hopper means 19 is prevented fromfurther opening thereof.

Since the contents of the container 10 tend to spill out of the opening17 into the opened hopper 19, the weight of the contents of thecontainer 10 tend to bulge the side walls and 27 of the container 10adjacent the opening 17.

However, because the reinforcing panels 33 of the container 10 and thereinforcing panels 60 and 61 of the hopper'means 19 are disposedadjacent the walls 25 and 27 at the opening 17, the contents of thecontainer cannot outwardly bulge the walls 25 and 27 of the container 10as provided in prior known containers.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention provides an improvedcontainer for storing and shipping desired articles thereof and whichcan be subsequently utilized as an attractive displaying and dispensingdevice in the above manner.

Should the blanks 23 and 49 be made by one manufacturer to be utilizedby another manufacturer to package his articles, the blanks 23, 49 andshipper panels 21 can be supplied to the article manufacturer in thefiat blank form illustrated in the drawings whereby the articlemanufacturer can erect the container 10 in the above manner.Alternately, the container manufacturer can form the container 10 in itsrectangular form by interconnecting the interconnecting flap 31 to theinside surface of the'side wall 27 to form a tubular structure and,thereafter, collapse the tubular structure into a flat compact form tosupply such flattened tubular blanks along with the flap blanks 49 andshipper panels 21 to the article manufacturer.--

6. Thereafter, the article manufacturer can erect the carton 10 andattach the hopper means 19 thereto without requiring any gluingapparatus. 4

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention provides" an improvedcontainer having a hopper portion for dis playing and dispensingpurposes.

Further, this invention provides improved blanks for making such acontainer or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed asrequired by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a container having a plurality of walls forming theexterior thereof and an article-receiving compartment therein, one ofsaid walls having an opening provided therein and interconnected to saidcompartment, a hopper means for opening and closing said opening, saidhopper means including a front panel for filling said opening and a pairof side panels hinged to said front panel and cooperating therewith todefine said hopper means, and means reinforcing the walls adjacent saidone wall even when said hopper means is opened, said reinforcing meansincluding panels carved from said one wall and defining said openingthereof.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reinforcing meansincludes a second pair of side panels of said hopper means.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hopper meansincludes a bottom panel that forms part of the bottom wall of saidcontainer.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said side panels ofsaid hopper means limit the amount of opening of said front panel.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said side panels havestraight upper surfaces.

6. In combination, a container having a plurality of wall means definingan article-receiving compartment therebetween, one of said wall meanshaving an opening provided therein and interconnected to saidcompartment, said opening extending from the bottom wall means to anedge of said one wall means spaced from the top wall means, and a hoppermeans for opening and closing said opening, said hopper means includinga front panel for filling said opening and a first pair of side panelshinged to said front panel and cooperating therewith to define saidhopper means when said front panel opens said opening, said hopper meansincluding a second pair of side panels hinged thereto for reinforcingthe wall means of said container adjacent the opening thereof.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein panel means are carvedfrom said one wall means to define said opening and for furtherreinforcing said wall means adjacent said opening.

8. A blank for forming a hopper means for a container comprising a frontpanel, a first pair of side panels respectively foldably connected toside edges of said front panel, a bottom panel foldably connected to thebottom edge of said front panel, and a second pair of side panelsrespectively foldably connected to side edges of said bottom panel.

9. A blank for forming a container having a hopper means comprising aplurality of foldably connected walls for forming said container, one ofsaid walls having a pair of panels carved therefrom and hingedlyconnected'to walls adjacent said one wall to define an opening in saidone wall to be opened and closed by said hopper means, said panels beingadapted to reinforce said'adjacent walls adjacent said opening.

10. In combination, a container having a plurality of wall meansdefining an article-receiving compartment.

therebetween, one of said wall means having an opening providedthereinand interconnected to said compartment,

means, a hopper means for openingand closing said openpanel initiallyclosing saidwopeningsbehindsaid'front panel ing said hoppermeansrjnolnding a front panel-for filling of saidhopperfmeansl, 1 I I ysaid opening and a first pair of sidepanel's hinged to said f a 1 v a wfront panel and scoopel ating therewith" to define said 1 Referenc s Cifid in fhfif'fileofij thi t ent,

hopper means when said frontipanel. means opens said 5 I W i opening,said hopper n1eans in'c1'ud ing a second pai;- of UNITED TA a I sidepanels for reinforcing'the-wall means of said bon- 1,000,624 P g; taineradjacent the opening thereof, and. a rcmovable 1,228,324 Q $Q ----Y-- 15, 4

1. IN COMBINATION, A CONTAINER HAVING A PLURALITY OF WALLS FORMING THEEXTERIOR THEREOF AND AN ARTICLE-RECEIVING COMPARTMENT THEREIN, ONE OFSAID WALLS HAVING AN OPENING PROVIDED THEREIN AND INTERCONNECTED TO SAIDCOMPARTMENT, A HOPPER MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING SAID OPENING, SAIDHOPPER MEANS INCLUDING A FRONT PANEL FOR FILLING SAID OPENING AND A PAIROF SIDE PANELS HINGED TO SAID FRONT PANEL AND COOPERATING THEREWITH TODEFINE SAID HOPPER MEANS, AND MEANS REINFORCING THE WALLS ADJACENT SAIDONE WALL EVEN WHEN SAID HOPPER MEANS IS OPENED, SAID REINFORCING MEANSINCLUDING PANELS CARVED FROM SAID ONE WALL AND DEFINING SAID OPENINGTHEREOF.